Rackham Merit Fellowship (RMF) Program

The RMF is a highly competitive named fellowship for outstanding new graduate students, run as an initiative within Rackham's Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence team. Its three core goals are to recruit students from RMF-eligible populations into Rackham graduate programs, incentivize faculty to recruit and matriculate such students, and encourage programs to build an inclusive, student-centered climate. The fellowship uses a collaborative funding model between Rackham and individual graduate programs, with several customized versions (RMF for most Ph.D. programs, RMA for master's students, REA for engineering, RSA for science, and PIBS for biomedical sciences) that differ slightly in funding-year structure.

Collaborative funding covering tuition, stipend, and health and dental insurance during each fall and winter semester, with select summer stipend and benefits

For Ph.D. students, typically five years of funding (funding responsibility alternates between Rackham and the graduate program across years, per the published funding-collaboration chart)

Current stipend level is $14,596 per semester (2025–26 academic year)

A $1,000 relocation stipend for incoming Fellows

Early awareness of Rackham/University of Michigan resources through the RMF Connection Program

Access to a network of 50+ years of RMF alumni through panel discussions and mentoring

Year-round RMF programming for academic, professional, and career development, plus wellness and self-awareness support

Year-round community-building activities supporting social connection, inclusion, and diversity appreciation

Flexibility in accessing Rackham's funding portion via the RMF Utilization System

Fellows on a 0.25 Graduate Student Assistant appointment (the maximum allowed while on RMF) continue to receive Rackham-paid tuition and benefits

Must be a newly admitted student in a Rackham graduate degree program (doctoral or master's)

Must be a domestic student

Must have a record of superior academic achievement

Must be "excellent in one, or good in two or more" of the RMF evaluative dimensions, which include: leading or substantially engaging in efforts to broaden participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds; having experienced financial hardship due to family economic circumstances; having participated in Rackham-application programs for disadvantaged-background students; being a first-generation U.S. citizen in one's family; being first-generation to graduate from a four-year college; or coming from an educational/geographic background underrepresented in one's discipline at U-M or nationally, or holding membership in a federally recognized tribe

Registration requirement to receive fall/winter support: minimum 9 credit hours/term for master's students and pre-candidates, 8 hours/term for candidates

May not accept supplemental employment exceeding 10 hours/week (or more than a 0.25 GSI/GSRA/GSSA appointment) while receiving RMF support

May not hold other competitive fellowships simultaneously with the RMF, except the GEM fellowship